Arlene McDonald, a 25-year volunteer of the Indiana Sports Corporation, was honored with a Lifetime Rose Award Thursday night. / Cathy Kightlinger // For The Star

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Humberto Quintero, banquet captain for the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown, worked in his mother's restaurant in Columbia and brought those skills to Indianapolis, where he works at the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award Thursday during the 22nd Annual Rose Awards, which honors Indianapolis' hospitality industry employees. / Cathy Kightlinger // For The Star

The Indiana Roof Ballroom downtown was filled Thursday night with people who know a lot about Hoosier hospitality. It’s their business.

Mayor Greg Ballard, executives from Visit Indy and hundreds of Central Indiana’s front-line hospitality workers -- waiters, cab drivers, service associates, and other non-managerial hospitality employees -- gathered at The Roof for the annual Rose Awards, which honored 95 of the city’s service industry personnel and especially 10 Rose Award winners, who are deemed the best of the best.

This year’s 22nd annual awards night highlighted everything from everyday service to efforts made during Super Bowl XLVI in February 2012.

“This is always one of the best events of the year because these are the people who really are the face of the city and it’s always fun to show them the appreciation,” Ballard said. “When visitors come to the city they pretty much say the same thing, ‘I never knew what a great city, clean city, everybody’s nice around here.’ It’s because of these people that are here tonight.”

This year’s 10 ROSE, which stands for Recognition Of Service Excellence, Award recipients are:

• Accent on Indianapolis tour guide Sheryl Proctor, a breast cancer survivor who educated chauffeurs from Dallas who worked in Indianapolis for Super Bowl XLVI about important Indianapolis destinations.

• JW Marriott’s Lorna Cantera, who didn’t know much English when she moved her family to the United States and now speaks six languages. She also volunteers to dress as Mrs. Claus for holiday parties.

• Indianapolis Skyline Club’s Cesar Cruz-Flores, who is about to celebrate 10 years of work as the captain of the Skyline Club and is known as the “go to man” when there are questions about the club menu.

• The Renaissance Hotel’s Grille 39 Bar bartender Candice Ruttan, whose managers credit her for her hotel’s ranking in the top five best hotel bars across the hotel’s portfolio. She is known for her service and listening skills.

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• IndyGo Coach Operator and Trainer Brian Williams, who has said: “Driving a bus is more than just a job. It’s about my impact -- what can I do to contribute? It’s our duty to serve one another, and working here has given me the chance to serve lots of people.”

• Indiana Sports Corporation/Indiana Swimming volunteer Arlene McDonald, who is credited for helping bring the 2012 through 2017 Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Daving Championship’s to Indianapolis. She has volunteered with the Sports Corporation for 25 years.

• Indianapolis Marriott Downtown Banquet Captain Humberto Quintero, who led a staff that hosted the official New York Giants post-game party. After the Giants won Super Bowl XLVI, the party swelled from an expected 2,500 to 4,500 and Quintero never “flinched, faltered or failed,” officials said.

• Scotty’s Brewhouse server Samantha “Sammi” Edwards, who donated her full head of red hair to Locks of Love when the restaurant was hosting an event in support of Colts Coach Chuck Pagano, who was diagnosed with leukemia. Edwards, 21, the youngest Rose Award recipient, stepped into a barber’s chair in the restaurant to do it.

• Bill Coffey, a suite runner with Levy Restaurants at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Coffey, who walked to work and showed up early, prepared suites for the Indiana Pacers vs. Chicago Bulls game when much of the Fieldhouse staff had failed to come in because of a blizzard prediction and canceled bus routes.